Those were the days...

A few years ago this would have been a familiar sight to me - a tube to my home. Five years on, and I'm a real tourist in London, taking pictures on the London Underground. I had drunk half a bottle of Shiraz....

oh I do like to be beside the seaside...

The family trip to Blackpool had been much-anticiapted, but after the relentless rains which battered the UK for much of June, it was likely to be more of a mud-fest than anything else.
Regardless, we drove up from Devon to the North West in search of a sunny trip down memory lane. Although we arrived to decidedly overcast weather and a rather desolate and empty-looking seaside town, both we and the weather perked up and we had a glorious weekend.

The aim of the trip was to let Charlotte experience all the things we had as children, so there was no real need to take her to Blackpool again (unless she wanted to return). So she was dragged along the piers, promenade and the beach on the back of a donkey. But she seemed to love it.
As for the rest of us, we were mildly horrified by the downmarket clientele Britain's first working class holiday resort was now attracting, but I guess it's just a sign of the times.

Quick holiday update...

Hello from rainy Devon!
Can't quite believe I've been away two weeks - the time has just flown. The British summer has been typically true to form - wet and wild :-(
I've been hanging out with Charlotte in Devon, then she, my sister and I had eight days in Spain with Dad. It was great to see him, as I've been worried about him since Mum died, but we had a lovely time together. Sadly I caught a cold on the plane from Sydney to HK, which I've passed to everyone and have yet to shake. Ah well...
I celebrated my birthday in Spain too (thanks for the good wishes and phonecalls) with lunch at The Wok and an afternoon at the beach with my niece. I was fairly hooked on the TV show Britain's got talent so that rounded off my Spanish birthday.
Once back in Devon, it was all systems go for Charlotte's baptism and first birthday party, all of which went swimmingly.
We're off to Blackpool late tomorrow (Fri) for a few days, then it's London and home for me.
It's been very much a flying visit, but a wonderful one.
Stay tuned for Blackpool pics soon :-)
Love Claire xxx

Busy hanging out with my niece...

The TRUE origin of the London 2012 logo...